Our no-kill shelter is funded solely by our and your contributions to
Straydog Inc., a 1997 Texas Nonprofit Corporation with 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
(from the Internal Revenue Service - TAX ID #: 75-2756374)
via the ARNOLD STRAY DOG FUND, P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas 75147

S t r a y d o g . J o u r n a l
. A NEWSLETTER FROM THE ARNOLD FAMILY'S HAPPY HOME FOR STRAYS Published as often as we can find the time, materials and postage money to get it out
INTERNET ADDRESS: www.straydog.org
ADOPTION LINE: (903) 479-3497

February 1 - March 15, 1999

No grants yet! ... H E L P !

We're flying just barely above the treetops! We have to level with you: Applying for and hopefully receiving grants is going to be a long, drawn-out process, just as we experienced in becoming a 1997 Texas Non-Profit Corporation and again experienced in acquiring 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. We were very naive to think that upon receiving tax-exempt status our financial troubles would miraculously soon be over.

Meanwhile the balance in The Arnold Stray Dog Fund actually dipped as low as $165 at the beginning of this month, and you, dear contributor, never even saw the "blip on the screen," as you have not been aware of the account balance on a daily basis.

The balance in the Arnold Stray Dog Fund is a true and accurate indicator of our financial status, as all donations are immediately deposited into this account, and all expenses (including improvements like kennel fencing) are immediately paid for out of this account as they are incurred, except for the vet bill, which now stands at an all-time high of more than $1,700. (We pay off a chunk of the vet bill everytime we get a little bit ahead in the Arnold Stray Dog Fund.) (Complete financial records are available upon request, including photocopies of our monthly bank statements, which show each and every check written on the Arnold Stray Dog Fund account, thus explicitly showing exactly where your donated dollars go. We will also be glad to furnish photo copies of each receipt matched with the corresponding check.)

For the immediate future the survival of our Happy Home for Strays relies on the financial support of ourselves and you, our original contributors. Pat will continue to contribute (without pay) 12 or more hours a day (really 24 hours per day since she is always on duty, oftentimes being awakened in the night by the "INTRUDER ALARM"--the simultaneous barking of more than 40 dogs--which alarm has to be checked out before going back to bed), seven days a week, 365 days a year, managing the shelter, and I will continue to contribute (without pay) 20 - 30 hours per week on weekends and after my regular job daily, picking up supplies (dog food, etc.), dealing with our accountant, taking deposits to the bank, taking payroll taxes to the bank (for the bank to wire to the state), writing, printing and mailing this newsletter and other mailers, etc., while also working a full-time job in Dallas to pay for our personal expenses.

The Mission of Straydog Inc.

Food, Shelter, Security, Love, Trust and Companionship are a few of the guarantees our ancestors made to the wolf puppies they brought up thousands of years ago if the wolves would become dogs. Over a period of many, many centuries wolves became dogs, rendering themselves almost helpless without the support of humans. Dogs protect us and show us an unconditional love that does not manifest itself almost anywhere else in our life experience. We owe them! We simply owe them a decent life--each and every one of them. It wasn't in the original deal between our ancestors and the wolves (who became dogs) for us humans to euthanize 5,000,000 unplanned for, helpless, homeless dogs every year. We humans have the obligation, the power and the resources to make good on our part of the bargain no matter what we have to sacrifice. Our plan is twofold:

(1) Through spaying and neutering we must prevent the conception and birth of all potential future yearly 5,000,000-dog surpluses, thus eliminating the need for using euthanasia for population control, and

(2) We must provide a decent life within our homes and in no-kill shelters like our Happy Home for Strays for each and every one of the unplanned for, homeless dogs who somehow still happen to be conceived and born. We believe every dog deserves to be treated and cared for as well as we as a society treat and care for helpless humans.

Straydog Inc. - Arnold Stray Dog Fund
P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas 75147

Our Motto: "STRAY DOGS TO LUCKY DOGS!"
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Until the war on unplanned dog and cat pregnancies has been won and there are no more lost and abandoned strays, we humans must care for the lucky ones we are lucky enough to rescue.

WEEKLY EXPENSES: Dog Food - $285; Payroll - $600; Vets - $200; Misc. - $200